Heart heart heart

For running away to and writing a terribly written novel about nothing consisting of about ten pages.

For the slightly aggressive toddler or trainee terrorist

If I'm on Border Control this is why

Mum says no. Customs says no. Heart says yes.

More Hanoi

LOL

Crickets for dinner

Cat fish spring rolls, duck and crickets fried in pig fat. Kind of crunchy but good.

Plate collection

My new Ho plate. You get to a certain age and a plate collection just seems appropriate.

The perfect bird cage

Like most things I want not that practical and difficult to carry home. May have to settle for snow globe.

More Camo Wall of Shame

Baby shopping

In the style of Jolie. Can't decide between this and an ipad.

I've got Hos in different area codes

Went to see Uncle Ho this morning but unfortunately I was looking a little too Ho for Ho. Got pulled out of a massive line of people by a lady with a loud speaker and got made to cover up with a scarf. Lined up for ages to see Ho -was kind of weird  to  see him just lying in a glass case like a communist snow white flanked by heaps of guards who just have to stand there all day with huge guns. Got in trouble a lot - for walking on the grass (something not to be enjoyed by the working masses clearly) and then got manhandled by the guard for walking too slowly past the coffin (slight exaggeration for dramatic effect but he did grab my arm and propel me forward which I think safely falls into a loose interpretation of manhandling)

The Presidential Palace where Ho Chi Minh definitely did not live.

The modest stilt house right next door to the palace where Ho did live.

Ho's lamp

Ho's peacock in a ridiculously small cage.

Ho's guard.

Ho's fish.

Don't go down the shoe shine street

unless you have shiny, shiny shoes. These nearly caused a riot. Got accosted by many in a swarm like formation.  One guy even said he would do it for free he was so upset and then followed me asking me why not like I was some kind of freak. Totally not getting my early nineties grunge aesthetic but then not many people do.

Hanoi Day 1